Flexible stay-bolt.



B. E. D. STAFFORD.

FLEXIBLE STAY BOLT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1914.

1, 1 19,655. Patente-d Dec. 1,1914.

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BENJAMIN E. D. STAFFORD, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN'OR TOFLANNEBY BOLT COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE STAY-BOLT.

Application led April 1,

To @Zlio/01net may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. I). STAFFORD, of Pittsburgh, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful` Improvements in Flexible Stay-Bolts; and I do hereby declarethev following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

ll/Iy invention relates to an improvement in flexible stay bolts.

rIhe inspection of stay bolts within fixed periods is mandatory, and toinspect and test them the heads of the bolts must be eX- posed fortapping and turning.

`Witli stay bolts now in use, the head of the bolt is mounted in asleeve and is covered by a cap screwed to the sleeve. 'The pressure ofthe head of the bolt against the inside of the sleeve tends to bulgevoreX- pand the latter thus causing the clap to stick. Again the formationof rusten the threads connecting the capl and sleeve retards the removalof the cap, hence it is usually necessary to loosen the cap by tappingit with a hammer which frequently results in fracture or other injury tothe cap o r sleeve. Again when the cap is stuck fast, the efforts tounscrew it, result at times in loosening up the connection between thesleeve and the outersheet of the boiler.

The object of the present invention is to provide for the quick andready inspection of the stay bolt proper without Vdanger of injury tothe parts in which the head of the bolt is mounted, and it consists inthe parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully explained andpointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view partly in sideelevation and partly in section of my improvement. Fig. 2 is an outerend view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in section at right angles to thesection shown in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a view in section of the cap, andFig. 5 is a view in section of the head of the bolt.

1 represents the bolt, the head 2 of which is substantially fiat on top,with its periphery or rim in the are of a circle, the curved edge of thehead joining the body of the shank of the bolt by reverse curves, asshown in Figs. 1 and 5. The head rests on Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec.. 1, 1914.

Serial No. 828,868.

attachment to a sheet ofthe boiler, the bore y at the inner end of thesleeve being of greater diameter than the body of the bolt, and madeflaring so as to permit of a free lateral or rocking movement of thebolt within reasonablel limits. rIhis sleeve receives and houses thehead 2 of the bolt and is provided internally as previously e2;-V

plained with the seat 3 formed in the arc of a circle concentric withthe curvature of the rim of the head, against which said head rests, andwhich `permits of a universal movement o-f the head on its seat duringthe movements caused by the expansion and contraction of the sheets towhich the bolt is connected. The bore or cavity of the sleeve at theouter side ofthe seat 3, is of a size sufficient for the free entranceof the head of the bolt, and the sleeve is preferably providedexternally at its outer end with an angular rim as shown in Fig. 2 forengagement with the wrench used in attaching the sleeve to the boilersheet.

The sleeve 4 is provided adjacent its outer end with an annular shoulder6 on which the cap 7 rests; the shoulder V6 beingsutiiciently within thesleeve so that when cap 7 is on its seat, it will not project beyond theouter end of the sleeve. This cap forms a steam tight closure for theouter end of the sleeve and is held in place by the plug 8 screwed intothe ring 9. rIhis ring is provided with two oppositely disposed ears 10and 1l, the ear l0 of which is perforated for the passage of a screwbolt l2 which passes through the ear 10 and into ear 13 and forms thepvot on which the ring turns, while the ear 1l is provided with an openslot for the reception of the screw bolt 14. 'Ihe ring is thereforepivoted to the bolt l2 and is free to swing laterally thereon, while thebolt 14 serves to hold the ring in position over the end of the sleeve,and assists in supporting the ring against the outward thrust of theplug. The ring is further supported in its assembled position by theoverhanging lip 15 engaging the projecting flange 16 on the ring.

When the parts are assembled, the plug 8, which is threaded externally,is turned by a suitable tool inserted in the angular recess in the outeri'ace, in a direction to engage and bear against the cap thus forcingthe latter solidly against its seat and tending to torce the ringoutwardly against the heads oi the bolts, thus not only locking the capin place but also locking the ring against the possibility of anyturning movement on its pivot bolt l2. lli/dien it is desired to inspectthe bolt head, the plug 8 is withdrawn sutlicient to relieve allpressure against the cap, and it necessary the bolts 12 and le er eitherof them, may be unscrewed sufficiently to tree the ring. rthis relievesall friction between tbe ring and its screw bolts l2 and lll and leavesthe ring tree to be turned, and atter lthe latter has been turned to oneside and out ot the plane of the long axis of the bolt, the cap 7 whichis then unconiined is tree to be removed. After the inspection the capis replaced, the ring turned to its normal position and the parts againlocked by screwing in the plug and screwing up on 'the bolts l2 and 14.

It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangementof the seiferal parts might be made without avoiding my invention andhence l vwould have it understood that l do not restrict myself to theparticular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described,except as required by the scope of the claims.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Lettersdatent, is:

l. In iiexible stay bolt construction, the combination of a sleeve, acap seated within the sleeve and closing the outer end ot the latter, a.ring pivoted to the sleeve at one side ot the latter, the axis of saidpivot being parallel with the long axis ot' the sleeve, meansy on theopposite side of the sleeve for engaging the ring when the latter is inits normal position, and a screw plug carried by the ring and adapted toengage the cap.

2. In flexible stay bolt construction, the combination of a sleeve, acap seated within the sleeve, a ring mounted on the outer end of the.sleeve and provided adjacent its outer edge with a hole and at adiametrically opposite point with an open slot, a bolt passing throughthe hole in the ring and secured to the sleeve, a bolt secured to thesleeve and adapted to rest in the slot in the ring when the latter is inits normal position, and a screw plug carried by said ring and adaptedto be forced inwardly into contact with the cap. f

A stay bolt the head ot which is rounded and provided with a drive slottermed in the arc of a circle, the said slot being wholly to one side ofthe transverse center ot the head, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

i. ln flexible stay bolt construction, the combination ot' a sleeve, aring pivoted te 'the sleeve, the axis of the pivot being in thedirection ot the long axis of the sleeve and a screw plug carried by thering and adapted to normally rest in line with the outer end oi thesleeve.

5. in -Flexible stay bolt construction., the combination ot a sleeve, aring pivoted to the sleeve, the axis of the pivot being at one side of`the long` axis of the latter', means at the opposite side ot the sleevetor engaging the ring when the latter is in its normal position, and ascrew plug carried by the ring and movable toward and away from theouter end of the sleeve.

in testimony whereof, l have signed this specification in the presenceot1 two subscribing Witnesses.

BENJAh/HN lf). D. STAFFORD.

Witnesses:

EDWIN S. RYCE, HOWARD O. CArrnL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C.

